Game On Dude retired from racing

Game On Dude, winner of three runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap including the 2014 edition (above), has been retired from racing.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Game On Dude, a top older horse in recent years and the only horse to win three runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap, was retired Thursday after three consecutive losses, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Game On Dude won 16 of 34 starts and earned $6,498,893, including eight Grade 1 races from 2011 to earlier this year.

Game On Dude finished second in the Charles Town Classic in West Virginia in April, fourth in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June, and fourth in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 24, losses that led to the retirement of the 7-year-old gelding. Game On Dude raced for Bernie Schiappa, Debbie Lanni, Joe Torre, and Ernie Moody.

“After his last race, we were letting everything settle,” Baffert said at Los Alamitos. “It’s getting too hard on him. He’s getting up there, and it’s tough on those old geldings.”

Game On Dude was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Shared Belief in the Pacific Classic after racing on the lead through a fast pace and yielding the lead in early stretch. Prior to Thursday’s announcement, Game On Dude was considered a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

“If we couldn’t make the Breeders’ Cup, we didn’t want to do it,” Baffert said. “It was a tough call to retire him. It took us two weeks.”

Game On Dude is the best horse in recent memory not to win an Eclipse Award, although he was positioned at the end of 2012 and 2013 to claim the Horse of the Year title approaching the BC Classic.

Game On Dude rose to prominence in 2011, winning the Santa Anita Handicap for the first time and finishing second in the BC Classic at Churchill Downs.

In 2012, Game On Dude won four stakes, including the Hollywood Gold Cup, but finished seventh in the BC Classic at Santa Anita as the 6-5 favorite. Game On Dude won his next six starts, from December 2012 through August 2013 and was the 8-5 favorite in the BC Classic at Santa Anita last November. He finished ninth, 11 lengths behind Mucho Macho Man.

Earlier this year, Game On Dude led throughout the Santa Anita Handicap to win the track’s signature annual race for older horses for a record third time. During the Santa Anita Handicap, Baffert feared that pace pressure from rivals would doom Game On Dude’s chances.

“In the Big Cap, at the three-eighths pole, I thought that was it,” Baffert said. “I thought he’d cave in, but he came back on.”

Game On Dude did not win again, leading to Thursday’s decision.

“He’s gotten beat three races in a row and it’s not fun for the horse,” Baffert said. “He’s been too good for us. When he was great, he was great.”

How can anyone not admire this gelding? He was a top Gr 1 horse for over 3 years. That doesn't happen very often.
Yes he was a one dimentional speedball that loved SA but so what. He did it his way and did it well.

Meydan Rocks

More than 1 year ago

Hear Hear!

Felton Suthon

More than 1 year ago

Still laughing over Mike Smith getting yelled at for going 46 in the San Antonio and losing - then going 45 in the Big Cap and winning.

TEDK215

More than 1 year ago

I really loved watching this horse in his career, especially when Chantal was on him! good luck Game On Dude, go make some nice foals!

You Feel Lucky

More than 1 year ago

Do you know what gelding means?

mike

More than 1 year ago

He probably doesn't know.

mike

More than 1 year ago

And you've called me an idiot.

russell

More than 1 year ago

Classy move on the owners part.

Shawn Britton

More than 1 year ago

His last BIG CAP . He ran 158:17. Nobody was beating him that day.

Matthew Hood

More than 1 year ago

This might be the most controversial horse over the past 4 yrs. People either seem to love him or hate him. You can't deny his record or money won. I mean honestly, who wouldn't love to own a horse who won over 6 mil?
I think the main issue is not many made a lot of money off of him. He won at relatively low odds or burned a lot of money at same low odds. He was just never that horse in a good spot to really cash.
Was he the best? Maybe not, but he was top 5 over that time. Best of luck old guy. Hope your life is happy here on out.

Cheryl Lee Cuminale

More than 1 year ago

Cashed big time in his first Big Cap. With Chantel up.

russell

More than 1 year ago

His biggest shot at 14/1 was in his first BC when Drosslemeyer nailed him late. That killed all my tixs. I was all over Dude.

Shawn Britton

More than 1 year ago

Time was right. Good for connections. Great career

B

More than 1 year ago

I was hoping for one last chance at the BC Classic. He showed in this year's SA Hdcp that he could still do it on his best day; he just wasn't consistent anymore. He sure will be missed. Seems like he's been around forever. Win or lose, his presence was always interesting in every race.

Meydan Rocks

More than 1 year ago

Game On Dude is the longest running tenured Baffert horse.
I think Richard's Kid gets 2nd. He retired when he was 5 or was it 6 years old?

Meydan Rocks

More than 1 year ago

Go Between is up there too btw

Meydan Rocks

More than 1 year ago

take Go Between back

mike

More than 1 year ago

Loved watching the Dude at Charles Town....3 times! Hope the Dude has a great retirement- he deserves it.